Ball by Ball Live Score Commentary

7.08pm South Africa make it 4-0 with another comprehensive victory. They chose to put Sri Lanka in to bat this afternoon, and had them teetering at 131 for 9 before Isuru Udana’s counter-attacking 78 pushed his team towards respectability. But their 189 was never going to be enough on a pitch that played true throughout the day. De Kock then did what he usually does these days, launching the chase and collecting his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score. Du Plessis kept the runs ticking, and Duminy eased his way back into international action with a fluent, unbeaten 31 that saw his side to a six-wicket victory.

“You can’t say much,” says Lasith Malinga, who once again doesn’t mince his words. “We are going on the same path. The wicket was very suitable for the bat, but the batsmen didn’t realise the value and the opportunity to play a long innings. And with the ball, we could only get four wickets. Being six down inside 18 overs, it’s very hard to come back. We always talk about taking responsibility and putting our hands up to bat through the full fifty overs, but the last few years, we’ve been struggling to do that. Before we get to the World Cup, we have to realise that and get there. Some people don’t realise their value and do their job for the national team. This is a good, tough side to play before the World Cup. All the players need to realise these are the conditions we need to prepare for at the World Cup. Udana is a genuine allrounder in domestic cricket, and he showed he’s good enough to play international cricket. That’s one plus point for us.”

Isuru Udana is the Man of the Match

“I knew once we were nine down, I had to take on the bowlers,” he says. “Especially the fast bowlers bowling against the wind. It worked. I’m working very hard on my batting for the last five months, so I’m very happy about this. When I got there, my plan was to rotate the strike and give the proper batsman the strike. That didn’t work so well. But when we were nine down, I had to take on the bowling and that worked.”

“Really pleasing to see JP and Dave finish it off for us,” says Faf du Plessis. “That’s what we want our middle order to do for us. For the bowling unit, this series has been good and very consistent. The last two games, the batting is also starting to tick very nicely. Big picture, not the worst thing that Quinton and I got out today, because it gave those guys a chance. They were really solid. I like No. 3, I really enjoy it. But I can adapt my game between 3 and 4. We have guys who can bat in different positions, and that’s important for the World Cup. Cape Town is always a good crowd, the guys are confident and there’s a real good buzz in the squad. We might make one or two changes for the last game to make sure everyone gets an opportunity. We’re playing some really good cricket. All the stuff that needed to happen over the last six months or year has happened. We’re clear in what we want from a balance point of view. One more to go, and then the guys off to IPL, and then it’s an exciting two months for us.”

And that’s just about all from your commentary team, Liam Brickhill and Sreshth Shah. For an in depth look at today’s match, don’t forget to check out Andrew Fidel Fernando’s report. And please do join us again for the fifth and final game of the series at Newlands on Saturday. Until then, goodbye!

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32.5

1

NLTC Perera to Miller doesn’t make a difference though as the ball comes off Miller’s pad and dribbles into the leg side to bring the match to an end 1 leg bye

All the fielders have been brought up now

32.4

1

NLTC Perera to Duminy Duminy drives to mid off, and takes the fielder on for a quick single. Kamindu is the fielder, and he throws left handed but it goes wide. Could have been close, had he hit 1 run

32.3

0

NLTC Perera to Duminy chopped down to gully, no run there no run

32.2

1

NLTC Perera to Miller angled down to third man, and South Africa need just two runs to win1 run

32.1

4

NLTC Perera to Miller Miller now shows his class, following Duminy’s lead and hammering a checked drive past mid off FOUR

Jason: “Why doesn’t miller get a shot at Test cricket? I would argue based on his performances the last few years, he’s is now much better at protecting his wicket than assaulting the scoreboard. ” — I don’t think he’s interested, having retired from First Class cricket last year

End of Over No.32 South Africa 183/4 Last Over (6 runs)

31.6

0

Malinga to Duminy slung down from over the wicket, and aimed right at middle. Duminy’s defence holds firm no run

31.5

2

Malinga to Duminy Duminy slashes a drive past a diving gully fielder, and there’s room for a second as it’s a little square of third man 2 runs

31.4

0

Malinga to Duminy dead-batted close in on the off side no run

Tharin: “@Dinesh Malinga didnt debut until 2004. 2003 he was still sporting a hair cut done by his mother..”

31.3

4

Malinga to Duminy crisply driven, Duminy leaning across into languid stroke. Left handers just do it better FOUR

31.2

0

Malinga to Duminy this time it’s the drive that’s bottom edged, and Miller sends Duminy back as he wanders out looking for a run no run

31.1

0

Malinga to Duminy Duminy chops a cut hard into the ground, the ball bouncing through to the keeper no run

Raj_83: “Regardless of the bad luck today, Priyamal Perera should be given another chance.He has been selected for a reason.” — Yep, can’t judge him on one (albeit very short) innings

End of Over No.31 South Africa 177/4 Last Over (4 runs)

30.6

1

NLTC Perera to Duminy slashed down to third man, where Rajitha cleans up 1 run

30.5

1

NLTC Perera to Miller short again, but straighter this time and it’s slugged out to deep midwicket 1 run

PietSkiet: “Lot of top teams struggle with middle order scoring runs. I suspect key to upcoming World Cup will be a strong middle order, with Faf, Miller and Duminy back I suspect SA not looking to bad all of a sudden”

30.4

0

NLTC Perera to Miller Miller fishes outside off, and there’s a yelp of excitement as ball passes bat, but he wasn’t close to it no run

30.3

0

NLTC Perera to Miller Miller whips across a length delivery, but he can’t beat midwicket no run

30.2

1

NLTC Perera to Duminy glanced off middle and leg, and a single into the deep 1 run

30.1

1

NLTC Perera to Miller this time the quick single is on, Miller making an early call and JP sprinting through 1 run

Rahul Gandhi: “Who will emerge on top: Miller or Malinga? Either ways, it’s going to feature a lot of Masala. If only Sri Lanka had Mahela :(((”

End of Over No.30 South Africa 173/4 Last Over (7 runs)

29.6

1

Malinga to Miller Miller uses the angle to work a single to fine leg, keeping the strike 1 run

29.5

0

Malinga to Miller Miller looks for a drop-and-run single, but a diving gully fielder sends him home no run

Brian Roberts: “This new Miller is so responsible! I like it.”

29.4

0

Malinga to Miller fuller this time, and angled in at off stump, Miller keeping it out with a push to cover no run

29.3

1

Malinga to Duminy and he turns the strike back over with a guide to third man 1 run

29.2

4

Malinga to Duminy helped on its way, Duminy getting inside the line and placing the ball down to the boundary with a controlled paddle-pull FOUR

29.1

1

Malinga to Miller he comes around the stumps, Miller chopping a single down to third man off a length delivery 1 run

End of Over No.29 South Africa 166/4 Last Over (3 runs)

NLTC Perera to Miller Miller steps into a checked on drive, and there’s a single out to long on 1 run

28.5

1

NLTC Perera to Duminy flicked off the pads, just the single though 1 run

There’s still a slip in place as Sri Lanka make a final roll of the dice

28.4

0

NLTC Perera to Duminy no run

28.3

1

NLTC Perera to Miller fuller this time, and Miller finds a driver out to the sweeper 1 run

Otajihba : “Benjamin Franklin once said, “A democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” ICC once said, “Cricket is the Big Three and a lamb voting on how many games the latter should get.” Okay, maybe it didn’t, but one gets the point – India were defeated by Australia, England manage to tie vs Windies… The gap between 1st and 9th team is miniscule, same must apply for 9th and 18th. But the Associates don’t get the chances in series or WC. 2019: to be entertaining+non-inclusive!”

28.2

0

NLTC Perera to Miller just short of a good length, and it’s tucked back to the bowler no run

28.1

0

NLTC Perera to Miller and he hits a length to start, Miller defending in front of his stumps no run

Here’s Thisara

End of Over No.28 South Africa 163/4 Last Over (13 runs)

27.6

4

PHKD Mendis to Duminy slapped through cover, it’s much too full and he nails the drive right in the gap. JP’s straight into his groove, and it’s as if he was never gone FOUR